The Exception That Proves the Rule: Race, Place, and Meritocracy in Rand University

In this essay I examine how race, place, and meritocracy are articulated in the documentary Rand University (dir. Marquis Daisy, 2014), about former NFL star Randy Moss. Produced by ESPN Films as a part of the 30 for 30 series, I ground my analysis of Rand University in the broader context of the sports documentary and ESPN Films production practices. By detailing how the trope of the exceptional Black athlete is propagated in sports culture and sports cinema, I evaluate how director Marquis Daisy vacillates between challenging and championing the idea of meritocracy in sports and American society.